Baker’s Dozen? Create a balanced college list just for you.
- Dane Copeland
- Feb 22
- 4 min read
Building a balanced college list around your student is a phrase I often write about. Of course, the next question: Just what is a balanced list? - may seem easy to answer on the surface, but can look remarkably different from student to student. GPA, test scores, depth of interest or activity, legacy status, and athletic opportunities, to name just a few, are all factors that go into one side of the equation for determining how well a school fits each student. The other side focuses on a college's mission, academic and learning environments, community culture, enrollment goals, new programs, and the ever-present "intangibles," which always play a role.
So much of the journey to college is about discovery and learning to make decisions, from selecting high school classes and how students spend their time to which colleges they gravitate toward. Options and choices can be important for students as they refine their priorities and develop the ability to choose which school to attend. At the end of the day, however, a student needs only one college acceptance and can attend only one school at a time, and ideally, it should be a place where a student will thrive, not struggle. It's not unusual for students and families to want to "swing for the fences," turning the idea of the "best school" into the hardest school they can get into. And it is not uncommon for students and families to equate being surrounded by students who are academically stronger than themselves with being lifted, but before a student locks into a school, they should reflect on which academic environment will truly encourage their success. One clue to assess the academic environment is library hours. If a school's library is open 24/7, is that for flexibility or necessity? Websites like Niche, which draw on student information, can provide additional clues about the campus environment, program strengths, and academic workloads.
Logistically, building a balanced list includes the right number of schools that fit a student's needs and taking into account which application pathways are available: Early Decision I or II (binding options), Restricted Early Action (a non-binding option, that limit applying to private schools), Early Action (a non-binding option), or Regular Decision and the acceptance rate for each of those options. All of which will vary from student to student, but consider aiming for a baker’s dozen and adjust based on students’ goals and specific needs. You could even count the UCs as one application, as long as you keep in mind that most of the UCs fall into the Hail Mary or Reach category, so applying to all of them does not increase your odds of having options.
While the Common App allows students to apply to up to 20 schools, it doesn't mean students should apply to 20 schools. Applying to more schools often means more work.
Having a balanced list helps ensure you're not applying to too many "Likely" schools or a list toppling over with "Reach" or "Hail Mary" schools. So what might a balanced list look like? A sound strategy that can be adjusted for each student aims for 1) two "Likely" schools, 2) a handful of "Best-Fit" colleges, 3) a couple of "Reach" schools, and maybe, but not necessarily, one "Hail Mary" school.
Your Aunt Harriet may be insisting that you apply to a highly selective/rejective school like Stanford (4% admit rate, 96% rejection rate), with the rationale that a) if you don't apply, you'll never know, or b) the more lottery tickets (code for colleges) you buy, the better your chances. Or maybe you have caught the Ivy Itch. Whether you have an Aunt Harriet nudging you, or the lure of a brand name school has seeped into your thoughts, you still want to do your homework and explore the academic programs and environment, campus vibe, and review the admit stats and numbers to ensure you have realistic expectations and can weigh the time needed for that application against the likelihood of acceptance. Assessing that your list is balanced around you – again, aimed at your success - can happen at the end of junior year, when you have final grades and potentially test scores. This gives you time to learn about any admissions changes schools implement, whether they are moving to test-score requirements or introducing a new pathway like ED at USC.
Finding and aiming for the best schools where a student will be successful is the goal, and a balanced list is essential.
Looking for more tips and inspiration to help you start your college journey? dream.search.apply.A Field Guide for an Inspired College Journey is packed with insights and resources to help you navigate your college path, and is available to order online and coming soon to your local bookstore.
Know someone starting their college journey? Feel free to share or connect us at dane@collegeu.solutions
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